Identification means



April 3, 1962 c. sT. JOHN IDENTIFICATION MEANS Filed NOV. 20, 1959 IN V EN TOR MNM United States Patent O 3,027,665 IDENTIFICATION MEANS Cody St. John, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Hollister Incorporated, a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 854,399 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-21) This invention relates toclips and in particular to clips for use in identification devices.

To provide effectively positive associative identification of persons such as a newborn baby and its mother, identification means such as that disclosed in copending John Dickinson Schneider application Serial No. 305,593 filed August 21, 1952, now issued as U.S. Letters Patent 2,954,620, and owned by the common assignee herewith have been developed. Briefly, such identification means comprise tubular bands each having identification indicia means, and means associated with each band for securing the same in encircling arrangement about a member such as a persons wrist. The present invention is concerned with the means for securing the band in encircling arrangement with the member.

A principal feature of the invention is, therefore, the provision of a new and improved securing means for use in an identification device.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a securing means comprising a new and improved clip for use with an identification device including a tubular band having an identification means therein.

A further feature is the provision of such a clip having a first part permanently secured to a first preselected portion of the band and a second part connected to the first part and co-operatively associated therewith to clamp permanently a second preselected portion of the band in juxtaposition to the first portion for maintaining the band in the member encircling arrangement.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such a clip wherein the second part thereof is arranged for manipulation, by means of a persons fingers only, to the locking arrangement.

A still further feature of the invention is the provision of such a clip wherein the second part is pivotally connected to the first part and the clip parts are provided with co-operating latch means for permanently securing the parts with the second portion of the band clamped therebetween.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a portion of one hand of each of a mother and child, around the wrists of which are secured identification means of the character described and provided with securing means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the identification means, adjacent portions of a strip of such identification means being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a portion thereof including an information card, and with the band partially unfolded and broken away to show the details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the clip with a portion of the band secured therein;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation of the clip in an open arrangement;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse section of the clip illustrating the method of securing one end of the band to one part thereof;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the line 8 8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken substantially along the line 9--9 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective illustrating the method of securing the device in the wrist encircling arrangement.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, identification devices generally designated 10 and 11 are arranged in encircling relationship with the wrist 12 of a mothers arm and the wrist 13 of an infants arm respectively. Identication device 10 includes a tubular band 14 of transparent fiexible material which may be formed in an overlapped arrangement as shown in FIG. 3. The band may be formed of nonirritating plastic material, such as Vinylite, and include a reinforcing strip 15 of a non-stretchable plastic such as Mylar. As shown in FIG. 2, a similar, slightly shorter band 16 of identification device 11 is continued from band 14, the bands 14 and 16 being separable at a connecting portion 17 as by cutting with a scissors or knife. Each band 14 and 16 may be provided with a corresponding identification symbol 13 which may be printed on the inner surface of the plastic prior to the folding of the band into the tubular form. Additional information concerning the wearers of the bands may be provided on suitable cards 19 inserted into the open ends of each of the bands 14 and 16 subsequent to the separation thereof and prior to the placement thereof around the Wearers wrist.

As indicated briefly above, the present invention is concerned primarily with the means for securing the identification band in encircling association with the wearers wrist. The securing means herein comprises a clip 20 having a first fiat part 21 permanently secured to one end portion 22 of band 14 by a rivet 23. A second fiat part 24 of clip 20 is pivotally connected at one edge 25 to a corresponding contiguous edge 26 of first part 21 to be movable from an open arrangement, as shown in FIG. 7, to a closed, band clamping arrangement as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9. Herein, second part 24 is formed integral with first part 21 and the clip is deformable along the contiguous edges 25 and 26 to provide the pivotal association of parts 21 and 24.

First part 21 is provided With a peripheral upstanding flange defined by opposite side flange portions 27, and an end flange portion 28 including a notch 29 and an adjacent guide surface 30. Front part 24 is provided with an upstanding peripheral flange defined by side flange portions 31 and an end flange portion 32. As best seen in FIG. 6, the lateral extent of fiat part 24 is slightly greater than the lateral extent of part 21 whereby lianges 31 extend to laterally outwardly from flanges 27 of part 21 when the clip is in the tube clamping position of FIG. 9. Flange portion 32 includes an inturned latch 33, the tip 34 of which is spaced from edge 25 a distance greater than the spacing of tip 35 of guide surface 30 from edge 26 and less than the spacing of inner edge 36 of opening 29 from edge 26. Thus, as part 24 is pivoted to the clamping position of FIG. 8, latch tip 34 slides over surface 30 and snaps into opening 29, permanently securing the two clip parts 21 and 24 in the locked arrangement of FIG. 5. In the locked arrangement, end flange 32 of second part 24 is substantially flush with end flange 28 of first part 21 effectively precluding release of latch 33 as by prying or the like.

Clip 20 is preferably formed of a resilient material; herein it is formed, as by stamping, of .O10 inch thick stainless steel. Front part 21 is provided with a circular hole 37 to receive rivet 23. The securing of the clip to band portion 22 is normally effected by the manufacturer, the -identification devices being supplied by the manufacturer in a continuous strip S as shown in FIG. 2. The strip is perforated as at 38 to permit ready separation therefrom'of the set ofk long and short bands 14 and 16.

The use of identification devices and 11 is extremely simple. In illustrating the use, it will be assumed that it is desired toidentify a corresponding mother and child, as in the delivery room of a hospital. At the-time of birth,v one set of bands '14 and 16 is removed from the supply strips. As indicated above, corresponding identification indicia 1S, herein numeraldesignation 195-A, are provided onrband-14 and band 16 of the set, the particulardesignation being unique to each set so.that each set will identify only one mother and childpair. Bands 14 and 16 are now separated by cuttingracrossportion 17. Suitable corresponding information cards 19 may be inserted into each of bands 14 and 16 through the cut ends thereof at this time if desired. =Band 14 is now yarranged in encircling relationship with the mothers wrist. The free end`39 of band 14 comprising'the cut endthereof is disposed in the space `withinclip -20 between Vportions 21 and '24 and maybe drawn longitudinally therethrough until the band 14 is in snug encircling relationship with the mothers wrist. The person installing the identification device 10 then places his index` finger I behind clip portion 21, as shown in'FIG. 1.0, and presses down with his thumb-T on portion 24 to snap latchportion33 into opening29. This permanently'` secures the'identification device in placeon the vmothers wrist. VThe freeend 35 oflband 14 can not be pulled out-through the clip 20 as the telescopic association of the flanges 27 and 31-eiectively positivelylocks the free end 39 in the clip and, thus, locks the identificationeard 19 in the tubular band. It should be noted that no tools are required to Yeffect the installation of the identification device.

kThe installation of identification device 11 about` the wrist of the'babysarm 13 isl effected in' a similar'manner. This may be done'substantially immediately after birth by any attendingperson so that positive identification association of the mother and'child is obtained. 'Aslthe identification `devices are formed of Anon-toxic materials, they maybe vretained in place "on'therespectivewearers wrists ras desired; illustratively, they maybe maintained on the mother and childs wrists until they aredischarged 'from'the hospital or may even be allowed to remain thereon to be removed by the 'mother subsequently in her ownhome. As the clipspermanently securethe'bands in' place, the removal requires a destruction of the.. identiiication device'as by cutting through theband with a pair of scissors. Thus, confusing reuse of the once-used identification devices is positively prevented.

While VI'have shown and described one embodiment of-myinvention, it isto' be understood' that' it is capable Aofimany modifications. Changes,'therefore, in the construction'andarrangementrnay be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as rdefined Ain. the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An identification device comprising: a tubular band; identification means in said band; and a clip including a first part permanently secured to .one end portion of the bandand including afirst locking portionfand a second part' having'a second locking portion and connected to the firstk part, said' locking portions beingengageable with each other to retain said clip parts in a securing position with the opposite end portion of the band therebetween to secure permanently the opposite end portion of the band in juxtaposition to-'said'lirst end 'portion for maintaining the band between said' ends -in a looped coniigurationabout amember such asiapersons wrist, said clip parts furtherincluding meansoperative in the securingposition yto `pinchsaid portions of the -band' to define endV boundaries of the yinterior of the tubular band for retaining the identificationr means therein.

2. fAn identification device comprising: a tubular identification'band; and alclip'including a first iiat partpermanently secured to a first preselected portion of the band, anda second fiatV part pivotally connected at'onev edge to acorre'sponding edge of the firstpart, 'one of-saidparts having a latch engageable infanopening in the other part, said latch being spring biased, aguide onsaid other part acting against the bias to-snap the latch into saidV opening for permanently securing the parts with a second preselected portion of the band clamped'therebetween in juxtaposition to said "first -portion for maintaining the band between said portions Vin a looped configuration about-a member such-asa persons wrist.

3. An-identification-device comprising: an'identification-band; and-a clipincluding a first part permanently secured to a'ffirst preselected portion oftheband, a" guide -anda cooperating catch on said rst'part,"and"a'secon`d part pivotally 4connected to the first part and'having a spring biased latch; engageable with said catch,'said guide Yacting 1against thebias tosnap' thelat'ch intosaid catch to clamp permanentlybetween' saidparts Aa'second preselected' portion ffthe: band spaced from thefirst portion injuxtapo'sition to'said'first portion `forV maintaining`the band between l said Vportions 'in a looped configuration about a member such as a persons wrist.

vReferences Citedin theiile of this patent UNITED v.STATES PATENTS 15,824,199 'Donohue Sept."22, 1931 1,932,101 Dietze Oct.`24, 1933 2,084,668 "Brooks June 22, 1937 -FOREIG-N PATENTS l'690,315 `Great 'Britain Apr. '15, 1953 

